The Use Of The Slang In America

1091 words - 4 pages

What does slang mean? If you look in a dictionary you will find the meaning of "Slang" which is " very informal in vocabulary and idiom that is characteristically more metaphorical, playfull, elliptical, vivid, and ephemeral than ordinary language." Slang can be found in everywhere around the world because it is part of the colloquial language that people use everyday, the expressions that you use to communicate with others. Have you ever asked to your self if foreign people understand what you say when you use slang during your conversation or why we add these expressions to our vocabulary?

As you know every country, state, city, and neighborhood has it is own characteristic slangs, words or phrases. How do we get to know them? If you travel around the world, you will hear the difference between one language and another, but you don't have to travel around the world to know about slang. First it may be expensive, and second , you probably don't have the time to do it, and third you can hear the difference right here in the United States. If you pay attention you will hear particular expressions or words that are use everyday as a slang, for example, in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles you can find hundreds of gangs have their own slang sometimes their use as their own way of communication. A particularly example is when you go to New York you will hear that people say a lot the expression "Yous" which mean the proper plural form of you. Another example is when the people ask you, Are you from "Chgo" Which mean abbreviation of Chicago.

Writers also use slangs when they are writing, another common way to hear a slang is in the songs, when singers do not use the proper way of the language, they just want to communicate with the general public. Why do people do that? Good question. Maybe is an easy way to talk to people or perhaps you want to talk like others do. I can also say that is another way to get accepted into a certain circle.

Expressions like "What's up, Dude, Howdy, Bummer and Cool " are common American "slang." Each of these expressions has their own meaning, sometimes the same word has a different meaning, it depends the way or the tone of voice that you use when you speak people, for example if you raise your voice when you say "Hey" it conveys anger whereas if you see a friend on the road and you say "Hey" it conveys a greetings, these expressions are mostly use by young people, "Kids, Teenagers, College people."

Why you don't hear these expressions in a government office, in a museum, or in a formal speech? Because to add a slang in your talk is not the proper way to speak, If you use a slang in a speech some people may not understand what are you saying, just for the simple reason that they do not know the meaning of that word or phrase you will create a communication problem.

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